Lin Qingyun happened to be on his day off. Ever since his scandal of secretly keeping a male lover was exposed—and after being severely reprimanded by his father-in-law—he had become much more restrained.
On his rest day, he didn’t even dare leave the house and stayed obediently at home.
When the gatekeeper reported that the daughter of Lord Song from the Ministry of Revenue had come to visit, Lin Qingyun felt somewhat puzzled.
Although he had once accepted bribes from Song He, the two of them usually acted as if they didn’t know each other and rarely interacted.
Why would someone from the Song family suddenly come to the Lin residence?
Since it was a female guest, he had the gatekeeper escort her to Wang Shi.
As for the Song family steward, he was brought to the study so Lin Qingyun could ask what wind had blown them here.
Song Wan Zhen was straightforward to the extreme. After greeting Wang Shi, she presented gifts for everyone in the Lin household one by one.
For the Old Madam, it was expensive incense.For Wang Shi, a carved screen embroidered with colorful tea flowers.For Lin Baozhu, skin-nourishing “snow cream” from the Beauty Rouge Shop.For Lin Qianqian, however, it was a stunning gold crown.
Just from the sparkling gemstones on it, anyone could tell how valuable it was.
While the others’ gifts were held by servants, the gold crown for Lin Qianqian was placed alone in a red brocade box—and Song Wan Zhen personally held it.
Wang Shi was very displeased. She felt the Song girl lacked judgment, unable to distinguish importance from triviality—treating a girl raised in a countryside estate like a treasure, while treating her, the true mistress of the Lin household, like nothing, and also disregarding her own daughter Baozhu.
Song Wan Zhen spoke directly:
“I heard your second young lady is a person of great fortune. I would like to become acquainted with her.”
Wang Shi forced a smile. “That girl Qianqian is often out during the day. She’s always wandering around—no one knows where she goes.”
“Then I shall take my leave.”
After saying that, Song Wan Zhen left without looking back, still holding the box containing the gold crown.
“Send her out,” Wang Shi ordered.
Her expression was dark as she watched Song Wan Zhen leave, extremely displeased.
Nanny Sun escorted Song Wan Zhen out of the residence and received two gold peanuts as a reward. Delighted, she revealed Lin Qianqian’s whereabouts to her.
After Song Wan Zhen left, Nanny Sun went to a secluded corner and bit into one of the gold peanuts. The teeth marks were clear—it was real gold.
All of this was thanks to Qianqian. If not for her, the Song lady would never have been so generous just to ask about her whereabouts.
Not long after, Lin Qingyun returned to the main house and told Wang Shi and Old Madam Lin what Song He’s steward had said.
Wang Shi sneered. “A person of great fortune? Does Song He think that just because that Jiang Shi’s daughter visits their home, she can cure his illness? What a joke.”
Old Madam Lin also said, “If she were truly blessed, Jiang Shi would not have disappeared for no reason. If she were truly blessed, her maternal family would not have been convicted. She is clearly a disaster star.”
Old Madam Lin understood it well in her heart: when the Jiang family learned the truth about Lin Qingyun abandoning Qianqian, they had caused him trouble repeatedly, until only then did Prime Minister Wang step in and frame the Jiang family.
All misfortune of the Jiang family came from that girl.
Lin Qingyun said coldly, “I’ve already sent people to watch the Song residence. Let’s see whether that girl is truly a blessing or a curse. I’ve heard Song He is seriously ill—maybe he’ll die shortly after seeing her.”
Meanwhile, Song Wan Zhen met Lin Qianqian at the Jiang estate.
Qianqian was discussing renovation blueprints with the person in charge of repairs.
Song Wan Zhen suddenly felt a sense of encountering someone like herself. This Lin girl, like her, was skilled in business and household management.
After Qianqian finished her work, Song Wan Zhen finally spoke:
“My father heard that you are a lucky person. He hopes you can visit our residence so he may borrow your fortune to cure his illness.”
She spoke extremely directly—without the slightest embellishment.
Qianqian liked dealing with such straightforward people; it saved effort.
She knew Song He was the official who had once bribed Lin Qingyun and was now serving in the Ministry of Revenue.
Someone who engaged in bribery naturally wouldn’t lack corruption.
Taking money from Song He would not trouble her conscience at all.
“Ten thousand taels,” Qianqian said. “I want ten thousand taels of silver. Go back and discuss it with your father first. If his illness is not cured after meeting me, I won’t take a single coin. But if my fortune helps him recover, then he pays ten thousand taels.”
Song Wan Zhen laughed. Qianqian was even more direct than she was.
That was good—it saved time.
“Miss Qianqian, I will return and inform my father. If he agrees, I will immediately send a carriage to pick you up.”
“Good. It’s a deal. The agreement must be written down—I don’t want the Song family to deny it afterward.”
“Of course.”
Song Wan Zhen managed the Song family businesses herself and was very accustomed to contracts.
She returned to the Song residence and relayed everything to Song He, who felt it was a good deal.
If the girl failed to cure him, they would pay nothing. If she succeeded, it would only cost ten thousand taels.
Honestly, even if it cost fifty thousand taels, he would still be willing.
“Wan Zhen, use our most luxurious carriage to bring the blessed one here. And prepare everything according to the Marquis residence’s standards—we cannot be worse than them.”
Qianqian had once seen Song He in a carriage on the street; he had already been seriously ill at that time.
So before going to the Song residence, she brought a small yellow medicinal pill.
When she arrived, the Song residence was full of wives and concubines—over a dozen women—and more than a dozen children lined up to greet her. The scene was quite impressive.
“Wan Zhen, don’t make it so complicated. I’ll just see Lord Song quickly—there’s still work waiting at the Jiang estate.”
When she met Song He, she secretly placed the small pill into his tea while no one was looking.
The pill dissolved instantly; the tea did not change color, but the fragrance became richer.
Qianqian handed the tea to him. “Since I am a blessed person, then I’ll offer Lord Song a cup of tea—may you receive my fortune.”
She left after only serving the tea.
That night, Song He began suffering severe diarrhea and could not leave the chamber pot all night.
It continued for four days, and he lost a full circle of weight.
Meanwhile, Lin Qingyun’s household had people watching the Song residence and quickly learned of his condition.
Normally, even three days of diarrhea would be unbearable—let alone for someone already seriously ill. He was likely close to death.
Old Madam Lin said coldly, “I told you that girl is a disaster star. She harmed the entire Jiang family, and now she has harmed Lord Song. Don’t let her bring disaster to our Lin family as well.”